Going into the book, I wasn't expecting a lot in terms of quality. The designs of the characters have potential, but I hate Reptil in that stupid Marvel cartoon, so I was already predisposed to hating the book. While the book is along the lines of The Initiative series, there's a unique twist to capture my attention. Luckily, that's not the only thing to capture my attention, as I find the student roster to be quite diverse and each offering up their own abilities and insecurities that should make for a good book.

The Avengers Academy's first team of trainees is made up of: Finesse (learns things like fighting styles very fast), Mettle (indestructible body), Hazmat (produces various toxic substances), Reptil (able to morph parts of his body into reptile type appendages), Veil (can disappear), and Striker (electricity based powers). Meanwhile, Hank Pym, Speedball, Tigra, Justice, and Quicksilver will be their instructors along the way.

The book really nails the voices of the new characters and how they could develop and change from here on out. Veil is a socially awkward girl who can disappear and often does so when under the stresses one might want to disappear under. Hazmat is forced to keep her distance from other people because of her radioactive powers, which makes her angry at the world and people for not being able to let her get close. Reptil is kind of a happy-go-luck sort of guy. Mettle is a freakish monster, but who seems to have a heart of gold. Meanwhile, Striker and Finesse are the showoffs of the group, and who think they're hot sauce just because of what they can do.

So what's the rub? What makes this book so interesting? A twist comes along the way, where it's revealed that – yes – the Avengers are training them to be superheroes, but the reason they're training them to be superheroes is because psych tests and torturing done by Osborn has led them to believe that these people have the greatest potential to be dangerous villains. When the team realizes this fact from their spying, the last group shot is one that pretty much sets these characters in stone. Striker seems that he could take the hero or villain role – as long as he gets to showcase what he's made of. Hazmat wouldn't mind having the world fear her for not letting her get close to it. And Finesse – who already seemed like a Lady Bullseye – seems more than happy to strike fear in people. Reptil and Mettle aren't keen on the idea, while Veil could go either way since she found out the people are lying to her.

All in all I'm really excited for this book for two different reasons: 1) the teen melodrama aspect as these kids try to find their place in the world, and 2) the inevitable battles this team will have against other mainstream players.

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